Best Rewards Credit Cards for 2017

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The best rewards credit cards aren’t just for world travelers. You could earn high cash back or travel rewards while picking up groceries, shopping online, filling up your gas tank ... the list goes on. Take a look at our list of top picks, find the right card for you, and apply online in a matter of minutes!

Our two cents

Jetsetters will love the flexibility of the . It earns unlimited points on travel and dining worldwide, and there’s no foreign transaction fee. Points are redeemable for options including discounted travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and they’re transferrable to 11 top travel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio.

Focus your spending on dining and travel purchases across the globe to earn 2X points per dollar — the earnings are unlimited, and there’s no foreign transaction fee. Use it for everything else to earn 1X point per dollar.

Get 50,000 bonus points (worth $625 toward travel when you redeem via Chase Ultimate Rewards®) once you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first three months of opening your account.

Transfer your points to 11 different top travel loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio.

The has versatile redemption options, but you’ll need to focus your spending on travel and dining purchases to earn the maximum points. If you want a card with a more open-ended way to earn points, the offers unlimited 2X points on every purchase.

Why you'll love it

The is our pick for the most versatile credit card rewards because it earns points on a wide range of travel options that aren’t usually included with travel cards and it has some of the most flexible redemption options available. You’ll also love the signup bonus: 50,000 bonus points (worth $625 toward travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards®) if you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months.

Our two cents

Looking for a card with no annual fee and an impressive first-year bonus? With the , you’ll get automatic match of all the cash back you earn in your first year, effectively doubling your rewards potential.

If you don’t want to wait for a year-end bonus, the offers an opportunity to earn a 40,000-point signup bonus after you spend $3,000 in purchases in your first three months. You can redeem the bonus for a $400 travel statement credit.

Why you'll love it

True to its name, the card will match your cash back earned at the end of your first year dollar for dollar, automatically. Another cool perk: You can use your cash back for part or all of Amazon.com purchases (redeem instantly at checkout).

Our two cents

The is a great choice if your goal is to earn credit card rewards you can redeem for a free or low-cost trip for yourself or your family. Every eligible purchase you make earns 2X miles per dollar that you can use to book all sorts of travel and vacation packages through CapitalOne.com.

This card has a relatively low annual fee, but if you don’t want a fee at all, consider the . It has a slightly lower earning rate (1.5X miles per dollar), but otherwise it’s a comparable travel card: unlimited rewards on all purchases, no foreign transaction fees, and flexible redemption options. You also get a mile-for-mile match of the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Why you'll love it

No matter how you use your , you’ll earn unlimited miles that you can redeem for a variety of travel rewards. And no matter where you go, you won’t be hit with a foreign transaction fee. Plus, it has a reasonable annual fee ($59) that’s waived for your first year.

Rewards Details:Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Sign Up Bonus:Earn a $150 Bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

Annual Fee:$0

Balance Transfer Fee:Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance APR:25.99% Variable

Foreign Transaction Fee:3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Introductory APR:0%

Introductory APR Period:15 months

Introductory Balance Transfer APR:0%

Introductory Balance Transfer Period:15 Months

Ongoing APR:15.99% - 24.74% Variable

Penalty APR:None

Our two cents

The is an excellent rewards credit card for all types of shoppers because it earns high cash back on everyday spending. It also has one of the most easy-to-earn signup bonuses on the market: spend $500 within the first three months to get a $150 bonus. Holders of the can benefit by pairing their card with the too, because points are transferrable between cards.

Earn 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories on up to $1,500, plus unlimited 1% cash back on everything else. (Previous bonus categories have included gas stations, restaurants, local commuter transportation, and drugstores.)

Spend over $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening your account to snag a 15,000 bonus points that can be redeemed for $150 cash back.

Pay attention to the bonus categories — you’ll need to activate them each month in order to earn 5% cash back.

Get an extra $25 bonus after adding your first authorized user and making your first purchase within the first three months.

The is a great choice for casual spenders because it offers 5% cash back, but 5% earnings are capped at $1,500 every quarter. (After that, it drops to 1%.) The may offer a lower earning rate (2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 3% at gas stations for the first $2,500 in combined grocery/wholesale club/gas purchases each quarter), but you won’t have to keep track of rotating categories and its combined quarterly maximums for bonus categories are $1,000 higher than the .

Why you'll love it

The earns some of the highest credit card rewards in the industry — as long as you keep up with the rotating categories. It doesn’t have an annual fee, and you’ll get a 15-month 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers. Plus, it’s one of the only cash back cards that lets you redeem for travel (via Chase Ultimate Rewards®).

Our two cents

Not interested in travel? Consider the to maximize points on common purchases like groceries and gasoline. With this card, you’ll earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for the first $6,000, then 1%) and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores.

A possible sticking point with the is its $95 annual fee. If you’d prefer an American Express rewards credit card with no annual fee, consider the . It has a $0 annual fee — though the earning rates for groceries and gas are more modest.

Why you'll love it

The is the among the best rewards cards for those who prefer to earn points on everyday purchases. It boasts a high earning rate on categories that are popular with frugal spenders and families — plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Our two cents

Consider the if you’re looking for a simple, flat-rate travel rewards credit card. Plus, you get 5% miles back every time you redeem. It’s also a great pick if you have an outstanding balance on another card thanks to its 12-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening.

If you want a larger, more flexible signup bonus, consider the . As long as you can afford spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months, you’ll get 50,000 bonus points that are worth $625 toward travel purchases when redeemed via Chase Ultimate Rewards® — or you can opt for $500 cash back.

Why you'll love it

The offers cardholders 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Plus, each time you redeem your points, you’ll get 5% miles back. With redemption options from travel to gift cards, you can use your points as you like.

Our two cents

The offers some of the best credit card rewards if you want to redeem for statement credits toward travel purchases, all with no annual fee. This card also makes sense if you’re about to make a large purchase, thanks to its mile-for-mile match at the end of your first year.

The flat rewards structure makes it simple to earn unlimited miles on every purchase you make. But if your spending follows certain patterns, you could earn more faster with a rewards credit card that offers more than 1.5X miles per dollar. We recommend the for 3X points on travel — or the for 5% cash back in bonus categories.

Why you'll love it

The earns a flat, unlimited 1.5X miles on everyday purchases — all with no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or blackout dates when booking travel. You can go where you want, whenever you want. The choice is yours.

Rewards Details:10% customer points bonus on every purchase when you have an active Bank of America® checking or savings account. 1.5 points on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.

Annual Fee:$0.00

Balance Transfer Fee:3% of the amount of each transaction or $10, whichever is greater.

Our two cents

Consider the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card if flexible travel redemption is a priority, and/or you’re a current Bank of America® customer. With this card, you’ll earn unlimited 1.5X points on every purchase. And since points are redeemable for a travel statement credit, you can book how and where you like — even on discount travel sites, which can make your points stretch even further.

The is a great alternative for travelers who want to earn credit card rewards at a higher rate: It earns 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases compared to the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card’s 1.5X points per dollar on all purchases.

Why you'll love it

If you’re a Bank of America® customer or a Preferred Rewards client, you’ll receive a customer points bonus that will maximize your earning potential. And because points are redeemable as travel statement credits, you have great flexibility in how your book your travel. On top of that, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee.

Our two cents

If you hit 30,000 feet several times a month, you should consider the . It’s an upper-end travel rewards credit card that earns points for direct-booked flights and purchases at U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets — all with a relatively low annual fee. And it comes with a few nice travel perks too, including a $100 airline fee credit.

Use this card to buy airfare directly from airlines (3X points per dollar) and at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. supermarkets (2X points per dollar). All other purchases earn 1 Membership Rewards® point per dollar.

Spend $2,000 within the first three months to earn 25,000 Membership Rewards® Points. (That’s a relatively low spending requirement for a luxury travel card.)

Book nights through The Hotel Collection with this card and, when available, you’ll get a complimentary room upgrade when you arrive.

Enjoy double Membership Rewards® points on eligible properties in The Hotel Collection. Book two consecutive nights and you’ll get a $75 credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities.

If you frequently travel internationally, the is probably a better option. It earns unlimited 2X points on travel and dining worldwide, with no foreign transaction fee.

Why you'll love it

The is a high-rate travel card that also earns points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. supermarkets. But it’s really the outstanding travel perks, including a $100 airline fee credit, that sets this rewards credit card apart.

Our two cents

The is among the best credit cards for earning unlimited miles (1.25X miles per dollar) on all purchases without an annual fee. It’s also great for casual rewards credit card users who want a variety of travel redemption options, including travel statement credits (which allow you to cover certain travel expenditures that other cards won’t, like ferries and auto rentals).

If you’re willing to pay a small annual fee, you could earn higher-rate rewards with another card. The is very similar to this card, with the exception of a higher earning rate (unlimited 2X miles per dollar) and a signup bonus that’s worth twice as much. Its annual fee is just $59 after your first year. If you take its larger signup bonus into account ($400 vs. $200), the extra bonus miles will cover your annual fee for three years.

Why you'll love it

For no-fuss rewards on everything you buy, the is a sensible, affordable choice. Unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar offer decent earning potential, with plenty of flexibility at redemption. Since you can redeem miles for a travel statement credit, you can fly any airline and stay at any hotel, anytime, without taking blackout dates into account.

What is the best rewards credit card for me?

The best rewards cards aren’t one-size-fits-all. With the proper consideration, you can score a card that will help you achieve your financial goals and earn some cool rewards in the process.

Step 1: Analyze your spending.

Since these cards work based upon where and how you spend your money, the first thing that you should do is review your spending habits. Travel, dining, and gas are three super common earning categories, so focus on those first.

Great budgets make this part really easy. Just remember that it’s important to get a roundabout average of your monthly expenses in common categories so you can evaluate which card will benefit you the most.

Step 2: Choose your rewards type.

Once you have a good idea how you’re going to earn points and miles, it’s time to consider how you want to spend them. Rewards generally come in two main flavors: travel and cash back. With travel, we’re talking about anything from points that can be redeemed for a wide range of options around the world to miles that can only be redeemed for airfare at a handful of airlines.

Cash back options are also pretty varied. Some cards, earn cash back and gift cards that you can spend at certain online retailers. There are even cards for those who want the best of both worlds.

When you’ve decided what type of rewards you prefer, work backward and focus your research on cards that align with your spending habits. Then all that’s left is to start earning points and miles!

The golden rule: Don’t carry a monthly balance on your credit card.

If you can commit to paying your balance off in full every month, the only two things you have to worry about are the signup bonus and redemption options. Take standard APR, for example. If you don’t carry a monthly balance on your card, what does it matter that your APR is 18%?

Redeeming points is just as important as earning them.

One of the key benefits of a great rewards card is being able to redeem points the way you want to. Your points don’t do you any good if you can’t use them. This applies across the board for different types of cards. Some airline cards and hotel credit cards are able to offer you a higher earning potential for purchases with their brand.

How to save more money by maximizing points and miles

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all card that delivers superior points or miles on every conceivable spending category and has the most flexible point redemption options.

Pro Tip

Owning two or three cards is the right number to get the most points or miles and still keep the cards active (assuming you’re paying off the balances). You’ll be able to take advantage of the bonuses and ongoing rewards without major limitations.

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